Hello my awesome readers, I would like to thank the wonderful guests who reviewed last chapter. Now let's get this show on the road. I give you chapter 17 of Peeta's Story.
Running. Escaping. Surviving. Those three words are bouncingaround in my brain. All three are demanding my attention. My feet do not move. I do not move. My eyes peer at the fire in the distance. It is quickly burning towards me. I don't remember where I am.
"Peeta! Move!"
I tear my eyes away from the flames and I see a boy around the age of thirteen. His scared expression is all I need to register my whereabouts. I am a tribute in the Hunger Games. I am currently in a life or death situation.
"Run!"
We take off at full speed with Cato in the lead. Clove and I bring up the rear. Glimmer, Sheldon, and Marvel are all tied for second. I look around me and see not only us fleeing the flames, but also animals. I remember in school my teacher said something about animals having great instincts especially when it comes to danger.
As long as we run in the same direction as the animals, we're sure to make it out alive. Cato yells something over at Sheldon. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but whatever it was made Sheldon run ahead of us into a path diagnol to the direction we're headed.
It isn't long until the flames catch up to us. The forest is in chaos. Branches snap off the trees in front of us causing us to jump back just close in range to feel the heat of the flames. That's when we all begin to choke on smoke.
We run around the branches and keep moving forward. We quickly become out of breath because of the cloud of smoke
hanging over us.
We stop for a moment and try our best to catch our breath. Cato orders us to cover our noses with our shirts. My fingers
close around the shirt's neckline and pull it up over my nose. We run again. We run for what feels like a lifetime.
My lungs feel as if they have been engulfed by flames. I cough and run at the same time. Even through the shirt, I can still smell the smoke. It's like the shirt is giving no protection at all.
We reach a clearing and we slow down to a halt. Once again we try to catch our breath. That's when a ball of fire comes spiraling towards us, towards me. I pull my hands up to cover my face and jerk backwards. I immediately feel a burning sensation on my forearms and chest.
More balls of fire spiral toward us. Clove ducks down and the tip of her ponytail gets singed off. Marvel throws himself onto the ground and Glimmer screams hysterically as the ball of fire barely misses her legs. Cato jerks sideways avoiding the fireball.
I'm now relieved Cato sent Sheldon wherever he sent him. Not to be rude or anything, but Sheldon doesn't have the best reflexes. Neither do i, but I saw the fireball before it came into close range. Allowing me to move before it reached me.
We run again. This time I grip my side because of the pain I feel from the excessive amount of running. The burning pain I feel from where the fireball barley came into contact with my body isn't helping with the pain I feel in my side. Oh and not to mention the pain I feel in my chest from the smoke isn't too well either.
From the look of the flames I have to say this is no ordinary forest fire. This Gamemaker made forest fire. When the Gamemakers interfer with the games that is when the audience has become bored. We're most likely to run into another tribute soon.
We alternate from running to dodging fireballs to briefly catching our breath and then back to running. I can't say exactly how long we do this, but I can say that this by far the most excruciating thing I've ever done.
The wave of red soon diminishes. I guess we finally out ran it or we are close to another tribute. Most likely the latter. It takes us over five minutes to catch our breath.
"Sheldon had better gotten to the supplies by now," Cato speaks up. That's where he sent Sheldon. To check on the supplies. Cato probably hopes that the supplies didn't get burned by the fire. I doubt the fire spread that far.
I drink some water that I found in the little supplies that we brought with us. The cool water brings relief to my scorched throat. Once we are all rehydrated and have our strength back, we start walking our way toward the lake.
We walk and walk. Sunset quickly comes and the last few streaks of sunlight lighten behind the trees. I hear some splashes and I am certain I wasn't the only one. Cato takes off first after the sound. We follow shortly behind him. Apparently the thing making the splashing noise is another tribute.
The tribute runs quickly ahead of Cato. I'm certain the tribute's a girl. I can't see the girl very well. All she is a blur. Cato directs orders at us with his raspy voice.
The girl very ahead of us seems to run out of options and climbs a tree. Whoever she is, she climbs fast. Her braid flings from side to side as goes higher and higher. We've finally reached the tree she's at and- Wait she has a braid. I only know one tribute who would have a braid. The girl looks down at us and smiles.
"How's everything with you?"
My suspicions are now confirmed. It's Katniss.
Sorry this chapter took so long. I got sick and wasn't able to write. Have you seen the Capitol portraits? If you haven't seen them yet I suggest you do. Francis Lawrence did a great job with them. I was slightly disappointed with the Finnick portrait. Oh well, it was still good. Oh before I forget. Disclaimer: I own nothing of the masterpiece that is The Hunger Games.
Please do me the honor of reviewing. I would be internally grateful. Everyone please join me in the review dance. It's like a conga line of reviews. If you can review and get me to 25 reviews, I promise the next chapter will be longer and I try to update sooner. I'll see you in the next chapter.
~ secretTHGluver ~